Cassius Winston: A Bright Future
1/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Kellie Van Maele, MSU Athletic Communications
You can call him a state champion, Mr. Basketball and the Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year, or you can call him Cassius Winston, the standout freshman point guard darting around the Spartan court. His accolades match the accomplishments he's achieved in basketball and he has continued that success so far this season.
Winston had his sights set on East Lansing during his freshman season at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School, but understood he needed to prove himself to earn the green and white jersey. In doing so, Winston led the Cubs to the Michigan Class A semifinals three times, captured three Class A regional championships and secured the 2016 Class A State Championship during his senior season. Of all of the success he had in high school, the fondest memory he has comes from his freshman season.
"Coach Izzo actually came to one of my high school games my freshman year and I was just as shocked as everyone else," Winston said. "I didn't even know he was there for me at first. That was a big moment in my high school career and that's when I realized that I was going to have the chance to play at the college level."
Getting to that point, though, was something that Winston and his father, Reg, had worked on since he was in second grade. His first memory of basketball was going to an open gym with his dad and goofing around with the ball and the basket. He was young, but his father realized his son's passion and potential.
Winston credits his father for being the catalyst for his basketball career and he is thankful for the countless hours they spent perfecting his game.
"He kept me in the gym and spent a lot of hours in there with me," Winston said. "He was a football guy though. He was a football player and coached high school football, but that wasn't my thing. He had to turn into a basketball dad and once he recognized that basketball was my thing it all just transferred over. He wanted me to be happy."
With his basketball dad in tow, Winston travelled from gym to gym and practice to practice, continuing to improve his game. High school basketball became the next focus for Winston, but playing ball at the University of Detroit Jesuit would not be an easy feat.
The University of Detroit Jesuit High School had not always been known to breed elite talent, but Winston wanted to change that.
First he led his team to a 21-5 mark, then 24-3, then 22-4 and capped off his career in maroon and white with a perfect 28-0 record. With his talent, U-D Jesuit became a serious high school basketball contender.
"My career in high school was all uphill, "Winston said. "We just kept getting better and better each and every year until we won the championship my senior year. Not only that, but I kept getting better as I progressed throughout the years, so high school basketball was a lot of fun for me."
Naturally, the next step for Winston was to play at the college level, which was a decision he did not take lightly. He wanted to ensure the school he chose was the right choice for his education, his game and his family, and Michigan State soon became the clear choice to Winston.
"It has everything that I need for my game, my academics and me growing as a person," Winston said. "MSU has everything that your parents look for in a school. It was more of the decision of why shouldn't I go to Michigan State? There's no question now that it is the best fit for me."
Committing to Michigan State not only secured him a spot on Tom Izzo's roster, but it also secured him a spot in one of the most elite recruiting classes in the country. With that came pressure, but it also provided the opportunity to play meaningful minutes for a Hall of Fame coach during his rookie season.
Since his arrival in East Lansing this past summer, Winston has focused on settling into the college basketball lifestyle. In doing so, he needed to focus on his game and his leadership, two tall tasks that Coach Izzo was counting on.
"Our freshman class is not a common freshman class," Winston said. "I had to speed the process up. I had to become a leader faster. I had to know what my role is faster. Coach Izzo has been demanding with it, but not overbearing. He is helping me, but also leaving me to do the things that he has asked of me. He's demanding, but helps me get there."
All a part of the journey, Winston is thankful for the steps he has taken to get to where he is today, even though it has been rigorous. He has learned to manage the travel, the pressure and the transition, and credits that feat to the guidance from Tom Izzo.
"First and foremost, he's a great guy," Winston said of Izzo. "When you're a great guy at heart, that will take you a long way, especially in this business. You have to have people's best interest at heart and parents have to be comfortable handing their child off to you. Not a lot of people like a person who tells you nothing but the truth, but Izzo is willing to make that sacrifice if it's going to make me better. He tells me what I need to hear."
With Izzo in his corner, Winston looks to continue his success on and off of the court that his father had instilled in him since he was young. With that, his list of priorities may seem daunting, but Winston has continually made time for his family, who have all been behind him every step of the way.
Basketball and family fit synonymously into Winston's life and he has been able to use the sport to grow with them. They played a major role in his college decision, but Winston always knew they would all be welcomed into the Spartan Family.
"If you know me, you know that family is everything," Winston said. "They've been there every step of the way with me, so why would I want to stop now? My family is going to grow with me and continues to be there for me. That's what it is all about."
Winston's future in basketball is bright, and with his family and Izzo there to support him, he looks forward to his growth on and off of the court.
"The opportunity to play ball at a place I love â€" that's amazing right there," Winston said. "I enjoy coming to the Breslin every day and when you actually enjoy something, it makes you more passionate about it. I use that passion to become better for my teammates, my coaches and my family, not myself."
